The lesson of Benazir Bhutto

[unixronin]

Benazir Bhutto, twice former Prime Minister of Pakistan and considered likely to win a third term, has been assassinated in Rawalpindi by a suicide bomber during a campaign rally.  That, by now, is probably hardly news any more.

But her death leaves an important example, because she leaves a lesson behind her.  She knew that if she came back to Pakistan, she would be a target for terror attacks.  But she came anyway.  She vowed to defy the threats, refused to be cowed.  She refused to live in fear and allow terrorists to dictate how she should live, what she should and should not do.

In short, she refused to be terrorized.  And in so doing, she set an example that many more of us would do well to emulate.

Comments

[house-pundit.livejournal.com]

I don't know what I think about her death. Still absorbing it. At least part of me--a large part--says she can't do anything for anyone now that she's dead.

I feel bad second-guessing her with her so freshly dead, but generals can't lead in the front line of the infantry charge every battle. I have to wonder if she was too much in the front.

Or not.

She had stones, I'll give her that.

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

She was ignoring security precautions in order to campaign and be close to the people.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I don't think she was ignoring them. Various articles have reported the security was "flawless" (well, it clearly wasn't that, there's no such thing), and Rawalpindi was considered to be one of the most secure cities in Pakistan. She was probably pretty much as safe there as anywhere except maybe a bunker. But none of that is worth much against the Lone Assassin factor. A sufficiently determined lone assassin who doesn't mind dying can almost always get to any target.

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

I understand and agree with your assessment of a lone assassin. I read that early on she was ignoring advice by security officials to stay in cars and behind secure shields. Instead, she went out in the open, unprotected, in order to be closer to the people. A flawless political decision, but against the advice of her security, and the Pakistan ISS security experts.